In recent years, Morgan Myles, of Loyalsock Township, Dylan Rockoff, born in Williamsport and raised in nearby Loyalsock Township, and Gabi Chappel, of Jersey Shore, have all brought the immense talent of the area to the masses.

And on Sunday, another name will be added to that list when South Williamsport’s very own Penny Samar auditions for a spot in the 23rd season of “American Idol.”

Samar, who graduated from South Williamsport Area High School in 2019, has always been involved in music.

“I’ve been doing music pretty much my whole life. It’s just kind of taken different forms,” Samar said.

“I remember doing dance in kindergarten, and I did theater throughout school as well,” she said.

More recently, Samar turned her attention to the pop music realm and, after graduating from West Chester University as one of the first to earn a degree from their studio composition program, reached out to a casting producer for “American Idol.”

“He set me up with the online auditions, and I went through the process, and I just happened to make it this far,” she explained.

Making it to the show has been on Samar’s radar for quite some time.

“This has definitely been a dream for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching this show with my grandma,” said Samar, whose real name is Christina. “She’s actually the person who my stage name comes from.”

“I go by Penny as a way to honor her, because she was a big component in raising me,” Samar said.

“I used to watch this show on her couch all the time. It was like our nightly television show. So it’s really cool to have a full circle moment like this,” Samar said.

Perhaps surprisingly, Samar didn’t initially start out in music when attending West Chester.

“I actually started as a marketing major,” she said.

“Then I transitioned into the music program in music education, and then into music therapy,” Samar explained.

She then came across the studio composition program, which teaches students how to write music while producing it.

Samar’s time on the show so far has been overwhelmingly positive, she said.

“The experience has been amazing. I really connect with everybody who’s been auditioning, and all the producers are wonderful,” Samar said.

“Everybody is just such a professional. It’s really a dream come true to be able to work with everybody who is involved in the process,” she said.

Unlike the reputation some reality T.V. shows earn, Samar said those involved in the show’s production put the contestants’ well-being front and center.

“I think, the goal of the producers and the team is to really support every individual’s dream, because it’s such a personal thing for everybody there, and it is a little bit scary if you’re going to be broadcasted to the world, especially if you’re from a small town, and that was just never really your reality,” she explained.

“I think they definitely try their best to keep everybody comfortable and sane through the crazy process,” Samar said.

Samar stressed that for anyone pursuing a dream, knowing why they are in the game is paramount.

The biggest thing, which is what’s brought me here, is having a very clear vision of where you want to be at your end point with whatever project you’re doing,” she said.

“If you can visualize the end and work backwards, that really sets you up for success, because you kind of have a mountain that you’re trying to walk towards,” Samar said, referencing a Neil Gaiman quote that she said has always stuck with her.

When it comes to music, specifically, it is especially important to think outside the immediate area, Samar stressed.

“I would recognize that maybe your direct community isn’t your target audience, and there’s a broader world out there that would accept your art and your music that you haven’t even discovered yet because they haven’t discovered you,” Samar said.

“No matter what you’re making, just keep making it, and then eventually somebody’s gonna walk by and say that they really like it,” she said.

Even at the early audition stage, Samar is grateful for all the support from her family, friends and even her college.

“My family’s been super supportive and I’m very glad that I was from a smaller community before going on this show, because when I moved away for a bit for college, I started to realize how special it is to have such a small community, because everybody knows each other, and everybody tries to support each other as best as they can,” she said.

“Wherever I go next, especially after this journey, it’s nice to know that everybody there is supportive and I have a family to come back to. It feels great,” she said.

“We call ourselves the Pink Penny Club. That’s our little fan club that anyone is welcome to join after this audition,” Samar said.

Anyone interested in keeping up with Penny’s journey can follow her across all major social media platforms.

Penny Samar makes her “American Idol” debut at 8 p.m. on Sunday, airing on ABC.